BioTechnology

Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. a bio-therapeutics company dedicated to the commercialization of non-personalized (allogeneic) cell therapy products has announced that the Company's PLacental eXpanded (PLX-MS) cells have demonstrated in vivo efficacy in the prevention of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in mice.

Peptimmune, Inc. a privately held biotechnology company, announced that it has completed its first clinical trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of PI-2301, a novel peptide copolymer for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases. PI-2301 is a second generation peptide copolymer from a similar compound class as Copaxone.

Another study of the effects of Rituxan on MS has shown promising results and a promising new approach in attacking MS, as reported in an editorial of the NEJOM. This article LATimes explains the approach targeting B cells, instead of T cells, with pretty dramatic results, for a single course of treatment.

While another MAB, the prospect of having an effective treatment administered just once or twice a YEAR is pretty exciting. (Journal article here - art)

Vasogen's VP025, the lead product candidate from a new class of structurally related drugs, is being developed for the treatment of chronic neuro-inflammatory disorders. VP025 is designed to interact with immune cells leading to the modulation of cytokines - potent chemical messengers that regulate and control inflammation. Neurological conditions that are associated with an inflammatory response in the central nervous system include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease).

While the article mentions MS, the company's web site doesn't. The drug, as described, does seem relevant to MS, however. Hopefully they will look at MS as a target disease also.

In this financing announcement for Protagen, we learn they are using their technology to develop diagnostics for a number of diseases, including MS.

Allozyne hopes to tap into a $4 billion market for interferon beta to fight multiple sclerosis by creating an improved version of the protein that would be administered less frequently.

They are taking a very interesting approach by re-engineering proteins to include non-natural amino-acids that improve the drugs efficacy and tolerability.

Inside a story on a stem cell treament for cardiac repair is this nugget:

Geron is even closer to seeking FDA approval for an unprecedented human test of another treatment it is developing from human embryonic stem cells for spinal injuries, Okarma said. Although Geron executives had hoped to begin such a test last year, Okarma said the company now plans to ask the FDA in the next couple of months for permission to start it.

Since MS and other demyelinating diseases can damage the spinal cord, this could only be good news.

Nuon Therapeutics is a drug development company focusing on novel therapies for autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. They have licensed a drug called tranilast and intend to develop others. Tranilast is currently marketed for the treatment of asthma in Japan and South Korea. Nuon Therapeutics’ strategy is to reposition tranilast in new clinical indications.

Tranilast inhibits antigen-specific T cell proliferation, skews a TH1-type T cell response to TH2 and suppresses the activation of antigen presenting cells by interfering with signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathways. The oral administration of Tranilast reverses paralysis in mice with established experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

OK, this is just strange - scientists have genetically engineered hens that lay eggs containing medications such as Interferon-1a (the active ingredient in Avonex and Rebif). The idea is that raising chickens and extracting the drugs from eggs is cheaper than growing vats of tiny cells (remember, a chicken egg is just a really big cell). They also imply that monoclonal antibodies (a class of drugs that Tysabri is part of) are also possible to grow in this fashion.

Since these drugs need to be injected, it is unlikely you could just eat the eggs to take your medicine.

I just noticed something on Acorda Therapeutics' web site:

The Company’s remyelination program consists of two distinct therapeutic approaches - neuregulins and remyelinating monoclonal antibodies.

The neuregulins program is based on using GGF-2, a neuregulin growth factor to stimulate remyelination, or repair of the myelin sheath.

The remyelinating monoclonal antibodies program is based upon more than 15 years of research performed at the Mayo Clinic.

Hopefully we'll hear some more news from them soon.